The safety of our products is our highest priority, and Americans should have complete confidence in their favorite beverages.

All common beverage ingredients – colors and sweeteners – have been subjected to rigorous scientific review for safety and have been approved for consumption by multiple regulatory agencies and authoritative bodies worldwide.

Ingredient	Synthetic food dye providing a blue color	Found in blue- or purple-colored drinks	FDA approved since 1969 EFSA reaffirmed safety in 20101 JECFA reaffirmed safety in 20172
Ingredient	Synthetic food dye providing a red color	Found in red-, purple- or orange-colored drinks	FDA approved since 1971 EFSA reaffirmed safety in 2009 and 2015 JECFA reaffirmed safety in 2016
Ingredient	Synthetic food dye providing a lemon-yellow color	Found in lemon-lime or orange-colored drinks	FDA approved since 1969 EFSA reaffirmed safety in 2014 JECFA reaffirmed safety in 2011
Ingredient	Synthetic food dye providing an orange color	Found in orange-colored beverages	FDA approved since 1986 EFSA reaffirmed safety in 2014 JECFA reaffirmed safety in 2011
Ingredient	Liquid sweetener made from corn starch	Found in sugar-sweetened beverages	FDA affirmed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in 19963 Authorized in EU and production quota lifted in 2014
Ingredient	Low-calorie sweetener	Found in diet beverages	FDA reaffirmed safety in 2023 EFSA reaffirmed safety in 2013 JECFA reaffirmed safety in 2023

We use the minimum amount of color or sweetener to meet consumer preferences, and these amounts fall well below the safety threshold set by regulatory agencies. Differences between formulations in the U.S. and other countries are often driven by consumer tastes. 

The FDA is the nation’s food safety regulator with a stated mission to ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply. It possesses the expertise, resources and authority to make evidence-based determinations on ingredient safety and labeling. A state patchwork of ingredient warnings, restrictions or bans will only confuse consumers about why certain products are allowed or disallowed in neighboring states. 

 

The Facts on Color Bans

Banning ingredients like colors that are proven safe and approved worldwide will only create more challenges.  

• Bans will affect nearly every aisle in the grocery store – up to 40% of groceries would be banned over ingredients that are proven safe and approved worldwide. 
• There are not enough alternatives available to replace these products. Supply chains will take an estimated 5-10 years to catch up and require importing more expensive ingredients grown in China, India and Mexico. 
• Supply chain disruptions will drive up costs and hit families already hit hardest by inflation. 
• Banning ingredients takes away consumer choice. Americans should be able to decide for themselves, which is why America’s beverage companies already offer a range of products made with natural dyes. 
• Research from around the world overwhelmingly shows artificial colors are safe. Color additives used in beverages are approved for use in countries around the world, including the EU and Canada. 
• Americans deserve choice and information. Bans, restrictions and over-regulation undermine informed choice.

 

 

1 The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the European Union’s (EU) agency that provides impartial scientific advice on the food chain. 

2 The Joint (FAO/WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) is an international scientific expert committee administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to evaluate the safety of food additives. 

3 Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) means that experts agree based on available data and information that the substance is safe for the intended use in food.